When is Herpes Active?
In many cases, herpes 's active periods are marked by signs and symptoms for example, the cold sores and other skin blemishes ("lesions") mentioned earlier. But not always. Herpes also can reactivate without causing any noticeable symptoms. Or it may cause mild signs or symptoms that are easily confused with something else.
Researchers measure reactivation with tests that look for the presence of viral particles on the skin or the mucous membranes, something called "viral shedding." And they have shown that viral shedding occurs almost always when signs and symptoms are present and sometimes when they're not. Viral shedding without signs and symptoms is often called "sub clinical shedding," or "asymptomatic shedding." Studies have shown that this type of shedding may occur frequently. In some people five of every 100 days, in others 50 out of a 100 days. Whatever its frequency, it probably occurs sometimes in everyone who has herpes.
The chart below illustrates that people can asymptomatically shed virus either immediately before or immediately after a clinical recurrence of herpes. People can also shed virus between clinical recurrences at a time where there are no signs or symptoms of disease.
One clue to reactivation for many people is "prodrome," something they feel rather than see. Prodrome can involve an itching or tingling in the genital area, backache, shooting pains through the legs, or other sensations. It often serves as a warning that sores or other skin lesions are soon to come, but not always. In either case, the sensations of prodrome can be taken as a sign that herpes is in its active state.
One of the "bad news" features of herpes is that there are not tests that can determine of you are shedding or not on a particularly. There are, however, medicines that can be used to reduce shedding frequency.
The above information thankfully comes from the herpesdiagnosis.com at the following link.
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